Feedback on NJ EI experience requested

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My 26 month old son (apraxia diagnosis) has been in Early Intervention for

almost 6 months, and we're due to have an IFSP meeting within the next 2 to 3

weeks. I'm looking to get a comparison from others to see what type of services

we can strive to achieve. Currently, he is receiving 5 hours/week of

Developmental Intervention (DI) therapy (mostly modified ABA therapy focused on

speech), and we are looking to increase services:

1) speech evaluation with an expectation that he will qualify to receive speech

therapy due to the apraxia diagnosis.

2) PT - we had an outpatient evaluation with a diagnosis of hypotonia and a

recommendation for 1/2 hour of PT twice a week. Recommendation for therapy has

already been approved by NJEIS, but at 1 hour once a week.

3) OT evaluation to see if OT makes sense. His latest evaluation done by his DI

therapist has him at the 16 - 19 month range for fine motor skills, so there's a

good chance he will qualify.

We have been told by our DI therapist that he will most likely be approved for

only 1 hour of speech, PT and OT each per week, in addition to the 5 hours of DI

therapy he already receives (not sure if we'll be looking to increase that too).

Knowing that the recommendation for apraxia is short sessions of speech multiple

times a week, has anyone had success in getting either more speech approved by

NJEIS or having it given in 1/2 hour increments twice a week rather than the

standard 1 hour/week session? What full package of services does or did your

child receive from NJEIS? Did you supplement the speech and if so, how many

additional hours per week?

Thanks in advance,

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